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George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:20

All Israel, whom the Philistines had conquered, particularly the neighbouring tribes. (Calmet) --- They were obliged to go to the places where the enemy kept garrisons, (Menochius) as they did at Gabaa, Bethel, &c. --- Share. Septuagint, Syriac, &c., "scythe," or "sickle for corn;" Greek: theristerion. (Haydock) --- The original term, macharesha, may signify all sorts of implements. --- Spade. Hebrew is supposed to mean, "a coulter." Septuagint, "instrument," which the prophets... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:15-23

15-23 See how politic the Philistines were when they had power; they not only prevented the people of Israel from making weapons of war, but obliged them to depend upon their enemies, even for instruments of husbandry. How impolitic Saul was, who did not, in the beginning of his reign, set himself to redress this. Want of true sense always accompanies want of grace. Sins which appear to us very little, have dangerous consequences. Miserable is a guilty, defenceless nation; much more those who... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Samuel 13:17-23

The Oppression of the Philistines v. 17. And the spoilers, soldiers to whom was assigned the task of plundering and devastating the land of Israel, came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual, toward the northeast, through the territory of Benjamin and Ephraim; v. 18. and another company turned the way to Beth-horon, toward the west; and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

SECOND DIVISIONKing Saul’s Government Up To His Rejection1 Samuel 13-15_____________________FIRST SECTIONThe Unfolding of his Royal Power in Successful Wars1 Samuel 13-15I. Against the Philistines. 1 Samuel 13:1 to 1 Samuel 14:461Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, [Saul was——years old when he began to reign, and he reigned——years over Israel].1 2[Ins. And] Saul chose him three thousand men [ins. out] of Israel, whereof [om. whereof, ins. and] two thousand were... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:13-23

Left in the Spoilers’ Hands 1 Samuel 13:13-23 Sternly and sorrowfully the old prophet pronounced the sentence of Saul’s deposition, and suggested that already God had sought and found another prince for his people. In Jesse’s home was found the stripling who in after-years would say: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and He shall strengthen thy heart: wait, I say, on the Lord,” Psalms 27:14 . Wait thou thy Lord’s leisure! Bid thy heart stay its feverish beating, and thy pulse subside! To... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

There is some difficulty concerning the opening sentences of this chapter. Some words seem to be omitted, which make it difficult to place the events recorded in their chronological setting. The Authorized Version reads, "Saul reigned one year, and when he had reigned two years. . . ." The Revised Version reads, "Saul was (thirty) years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel." The American Revision reads, "Saul was (forty) years old when he began to reign, and he... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:19-22

YHWH Delivers Israel From The Philistines (1 Samuel 13:19 to 1 Samuel 14:23 a). The passage that now follows commences with a description of the hopeless situation of Israel in the first part of Saul’s reign, and concludes with the declaration ‘so YHWH saved Israel that day’. All was thus seen as due to YHWH. The Philistines had rendered Israel as a whole powerless by preventing them from making weapons, and especially iron weapons, for the Philistines had a monopoly on the way to smelt... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 13:1-22

1 Samuel 13, 14. Saul’ s Early Struggles with the Philistines.— (J), chiefly from the ancient narrative concerning Saul. Editorial notes, or additions from other sources, are 1 Samuel 13:1; 1 Samuel 7 b, “ but as for Saul . . . Benjamin,” 1 Samuel 13:15 a; 1 Samuel 13:19-Song of Solomon :; 1 Samuel 14:47-Colossians :. 1 Samuel 13:1 . If the present Hebrew text were regarded as correct and complete, the translation ( cf.mg.) would be, “ And Saul was a year old when he became king, and he... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 13:20

To the Philistines; not to the land of the Philistines, for it is not said so, and that was too remote; but to the stations and garrisons which the Philistines yet retained in several parts of Israel’s land, though Samuel’s authority had so far overawed them, that they durst not give the Israelites much disturbance. In these, therefore, the Philistines kept all the smiths, and here they allowed them the exercise of their art for the uses here following. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - 1 Samuel 13:1-23

1 Samuel 13:1. A literal rendering of the Hebrew text in this verse would stand thus—Saul was years old when he began to reign, and he reigned, and two years over Israel. The Hebrew numerals have evidently fallen out, and nearly all commentators agree that this verse, according to the custom in the history of the kings (2 Samuel 2:10; 2 Samuel 5:4; 1 Kings 14:21; 1 Kings 22:42; 2 Kings 8:26) originally gave the age at which Saul began to reign and the number of years that his reign lasted.... read more

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